Sammy and Jymi, just a couple of dudes that have been reviewing beers weekly since 2017.
BLUESKY: @museonbooze.bsky.social
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MUSE ON BOOZE
Muse on Booze
BOSKO
BEER REVIEW: 437
BREWER: Pressure Drop, North London, England
STYLE: West Coast IPA
ABV: 6.5%
VESSEL: 440ml tin
DATE OF POST: 2oth February 2026
JYMI SAY’S…
Bosco, what does that mean then?
Other than Bosco Rogers, the Franco-English retro rock duo, I can’t think of another time that I’ve heard the word.
I’m gonna have to hit the Googleweb arnt I?!
Damn it, yeah I am…
John Bosco. An Italian Catholic priest and writer.
I’m not sure that is the base of today’s beer name.
Bosco Pizzeria in Bristol.
Nope, that won’t be it.
Aaaaaaaaaaah, Bosco is Italian for Forest!!!
And Bosco IPA has plenty of pine character AND is brewed using the greenest of all the hops, Mosaic. Woah, woah woah… hold up. It’s spelt with a K.
B O S K O . Bosko was a cartoon character wasn’t he??!
Right, let’s forget the name, blimey… we need to go back to the beginning of my journey with Bosko.
I was in a bit of a rush when buying these tins to test, it’s no excuse for what I’m about to state, but I’m just laying it down, that’s all.
See, I’d stumbled across a bottle shop in Little Venice, London, that I had previously been unaware of. I had 5 mins to spare so nipped in to see what that place was like, of course, and to grab a brace for me and me boi Sammy to test. Five minutes is nowhere near enough time to fully immerse yourself into making a beer selection. So I rushed it. The main reason that this has made a difference is that I failed to read the info on the back of the tin. All I saw was the rather saucy tin art and the letters I P A.
Once test day came about finally the tin was turned only to reveal that this was in fact a West Coast IPA.
Now, seeing as we are reviewing this brew, it matters not what I bought. Zany, plain, craft, trad, tin, bottle, strong, weak, bottle shop, supermarket, stout or sour. If it’s a beer, it’s going under the all seeing MOB… nose.
However, if I had a just been buying as a general consumer I would have been pretty F’ed off if I had ended up with a Westy when I thought I was just grabbing an IPA. Especially as West Coast IPAs are pretty divisive what with their very hop forward bitter nature.
But like I said, the fact Bosko was getting tested meant that ultimately it did not matter one iota.
So how was this surprise of a Westy?!
Well, oddly, it would work well as an entry level Westy! Maybe for folk that bought it without knowing what it was??!! Surely this cannot have been the intention Pressure Drop?? What on earth is going on here. I’ve got myself in a fizz.
Ok, ok, ok… Bosko is good but not knocking it out of the park. There is a good lemony nose to lead the way. There are notes of caramel, pine and citrus. And the bitterness associated with a West Coast is there, but dialled down a tickle. Not always a bad thing and certainly a good thing if you wanted an IPA but ended up with Bosko, by accident.
Without going back to see, I feel this review could well be 10,000 words long so I’m gonna leave it there. I hope you at least understood some of the waffling.
I bid you good day.
Jymi’s Rating: 75%
SAMMY SAY’S…
Slide into a low-lit booth, sax humming in the background, and Bosko strolls in like a regular who knows the band by name. Nothing flashy about the look, packaging’s as average as a Tuesday night crowd. But once the glass hits the table, the mood shifts.
In the light, Bosko glows amber‑brown, caramel‑rich, with a head that settles like a velvet curtain before the first note. Bring it to your nose and the tune changes: pine and mango step forward like a brass duo warming up, bright, confident, and right on tempo.
The first sip? That’s where Bosko starts to riff. Sweet caramel up top, a little burnt edge on the fade-out, pine weaving through like a walking bassline, and a flick of lime zest that snaps its fingers at you. Mid-bodied, smooth enough to lean back into, with just enough texture to keep you listening.
For 6.5%, it plays it cool, no boozy bravado, no heavy-handed solos. Just an easy, drinkable groove that knows exactly when to step forward and when to lay back.
Bosko isn’t trying to steal the spotlight. It’s the steady player in the corner, delivering a set that’s warm, balanced, and quietly impressive. A solid drop with a little swagger in its step.
Sammy’s Rating: 76%
MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 75.5%
MOB review next weekend: MURPHY’S by HEINEKEN
Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017
Bluesky: @museonbooze.bsky.social
Instagram: muse.on.booze
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M O B 2026
CHAMPION
BEER REVIEW: 436
BREWER: McEwan’s (Carlsberg Marstons), West Midlands, England
STYLE: Strong Ale
ABV: 7.3%
VESSEL: 500ml brown bottle
DATE OF POST: 13th February 2026
SAMMY SAY’S…
Champion walks into the ring with an 18% scorecard and the confidence of someone who hasn’t looked in a mirror since their last real win. One sip and you realise this isn’t a fallen champion, it’s a fighter who never should’ve been allowed near the title in the first place.
It pours a dirty brown, the colour of defeat, with a head so limited it’s practically throwing in the towel before the bell even rings. Nothing about it says strength or presence. It looks exhausted.
The nose? A single, limp jab: earthy notes mixed with overripe banana. Not the good kind of banana, more the kind you find at the bottom of a gym bag after a three‑day tournament. It’s a warning sign, and the taste confirms it.
Sweetness hits first, clumsy and uncontrolled, followed by a muddied bitterness that can’t decide what it’s doing. The label claims “full-bodied, smooth and complex,” but that’s pure delusion. This thing is thin, flabby, and utterly one-dimensional. The banana theme lingers like a fighter who doesn’t know where the ring even is.
Mouthfeel? Zero. It’s like drinking the memory of a beer rather than an actual beer.
Champion by name, but that’s where the fantasy ends. This is a catastrophic performance, an embarrassment to the division, even. Not just bad. Not just disappointing. Absolutely, unequivocally awful.
If this beer stepped into the ring, the referee would stop the fight out of mercy.
Sammy’s Rating: 18%
JYMI SAY’S…
We have a robust 7.4% strong ale here folks. It blends old school heft with some surprisingly nuanced character. It is ultimately a sipper, enjoyable but demanding with a slightly medicinal undertone.
Appearance:
Pours a murky, unrefined brown, reminiscent of dirty dishwater or thin gravy with a slightly soily cast rather than a polished, bright pint.
The look does under sell Champion slightly, giving a rustic, almost careless impression in the glass.
Aroma:
The nose is where Champion redeems that scruffy appearance however. Pronounced berries and winter fruit give it a rich, seasonal, almost Christmas pud edge.
This fruity bouquet promises depth and warmth, hinting at the strong ale strength without coming across as particularly boozy.
Flavour and mouthfeel:
The first sip hits hard, real hard, with the alcohol showing its presence early before the palate acclimatises and the beer settles into a more manageable groove halfway through the glass.
Bitterness sits high, focused on the roof of the mouth, with a slightly cloying body that makes the beer feel dense and sticky rather than crisp.
As for the flavour there are nutty notes, a faint metallic edge, and small tickles of caramel that add interest without fully smoothing out the rougher elements.
Drinkability and impression:
Champion is firmly a one ‘n done beer. Enjoyable to a point yet hard going, the sort of strong ale to sip slowly rather than sink in rounds.
Despite its heaviness and aesthetic flaws, it delivers enough flavour and character to be considered an ok enough beer overall. Champion is just about one to try for those who like bold, traditional strong ales. But when all is said and done, there are far superior brews out there of a similar style.
Jymi’s Rating: 54%
MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 36%
MOB review next weekend: BOSKO by PRESSURE DROP
Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017
Bluesky: @museonbooze.bsky.social
Instagram: muse.on.booze
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M O B 2026
POSH
BEER REVIEW: 435
BREWER: Forest Road Brew Co., East London, England
STYLE: British Lager
ABV: 4.1%
VESSEL: 440ml tin
DATE OF POST: 6th February 2026
SAMMY SAY’S…
You crack open the can and there he is; some bloke with a moustache and his pinkie in the air like he’s sipping champagne at a polo match. Beige and brown all over, like someone tried to make a pint look like a tweed jacket. Fair play, the design’s alright. Retro. Bit of charm. But then you clock the name: Posh Lager. And that’s when the confusion sets in.
Because let’s be honest, lager’s the people’s drink. It’s what you have at the footie, at the pub, at your mate’s BBQ when someone’s burnt the sausages. It’s not supposed to come with airs and graces. So calling it posh? That’s like putting a monocle on a sausage roll. You take a sniff. Smells like lager. Nothing fancy. No elderflower mist or bergamot nonsense. Just malt. Bit boggy.
First sip’s got a whisper of sherbet and some mild hops, which sounds promising until it all goes thin. Real thin. Like someone dropped a lemon sweet in a glass of water and called it a day. There’s a sour finish that tries to be clever but ends up feeling like a mistake. And once your taste buds settle in, it’s just watery. No body. No backbone. Like it’s trying to be posh but forgot to bring the flavour.
You sit there wondering who this beer’s for. Not for the bloke in the hi-vis after a shift. Not for the lass at the local with her crisps and pint. Not for anyone who actually likes lager. It’s lager pretending to be something it’s not. And that’s the real issue. If you’re going to call yourself posh, you better bring something to the table besides a fancy label and a moustache.
In the end, it’s a lager that’s forgotten its roots. And if you’re going to dress up like royalty, don’t show up tasting like tap water.
Sammy’s Rating: 38%
JYMI SAY’S…
I have to say that I was very pleasantly surprised by Posh. Reason being is that I thought it was going to be f’ing terrible! Let me explain…
A 4%ish lager brewed in Britain will naturally fill me with fear. Firstly this kind of percentage is normally, not always, but normally way too low to bring anything to the party flavour wise. 9 times from 10 they will be somewhere between a damp squib and ruddy bloody awful. So Posh being 4.1% and stating very clearly that it is a British lager did not fill me with much hope at all, regardless of the name. I also think that the packaging is SHOCKING! Butterscotch colour? For a lager tin? Whaaaaat? Add in a dodgy graphic of a supposedly Posh dude and the huge name POSH… naaaaaaaa.
However, once eventually sipping, this brew was good ya know!!
There is good amount of flavour here seeing the low percentage and British water. A touch of lime and tickle of lemon get’s the drinker to raise an eyebrow in surprised approval. A very easy beer that as mentioned, pleasantly surprised me.
Not bad at all Forest Road, I have to say.
Jymi’s Rating: 75%
MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 56.5%
MOB review next weekend: CHAMPION by McEWAN’S
Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017
Bluesky: @museonbooze.bsky.social
Instagram: muse.on.booze
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M O B 2026
LOOPER
BEER REVIEW: 434
BREWER: Full Circle Brew Co., Tyne & Wear, England
STYLE: IPA
ABV: 6.4%
VESSEL: 440ml tin
DATE OF POST: 30th January 2026
SAMMY SAY’S…
Looper, the beer, is a lot like Looper, the detective, scruffy, unpredictable, and somehow still likeable. It pours a hazy amber-orange, with a decent head and a look that says, “I’ve been through some things.” The nose is Looper’s best clue: juicy mango with a whisper of pineapple, like a tropical lead he’s chasing down in a rain-soaked alley.
Taste-wise, it opens with bitter mango, sharp, a bit chaotic, then veers into sherbet fizz, like Looper’s half-baked theories. There’s balance, but not brilliance. The sweetness creeps in like a suspect who overstays their welcome. For the ABV, you’d expect more punch, more length, more resolution. Instead, it fades like a half-solved case.
Packaging? Serviceable. Colours work, but the design’s as forgettable as Looper’s filing system. The name nails it, though, quirky, memorable, and just offbeat enough to stick.
In short, Looper is an OK drop. Not revolutionary, not refined. But if you’re in the mood for something that stumbles its way to satisfaction, this detective’s got your back. Just don’t expect him to crack the big case.
Sammy’s Rating: 63%
JYMI SAY’S…
Before even lifting the lid on Looper I have a couple of things I would like to say regarding the tin aesthetic…
Firstly, the tin art. Not great I’m afraid Full Circle. Though I wouldn’t say that it’s in the terrible bracket necessarily, maybe not unwelcoming it certainly is underwhelming. It’s so boring, and the colours… yawn indeed. This is not to say unadventurous tin art is a bad thing. Basic is the new zany after all, but I do think this beers housing could have been presented a whole lot better.
Secondly, now this is just me being a picky idiot but I have to mention it… Is Full Circles logo a semi circle?! Am I missing something here? All a bit odd.
Anyway, let’s crack the can and find out what this brew is all about.
Wow, she pours very thick and very dark! Not a bad thing at all but I can’t say that I was expecting it! The nose is great, very full and a slight break from the IPA norm with slight hints of apricot, I think. The taste is pleasant, pretty good in fact, but I have to say that I had a real tough time trying to decipher what it actually tasted of. Maybe a touch of lime? Possibly the bitter flavour of grapefruit? Burnt orange possibly? I really don’t know if I’m being honest. The mouthfeel and body of Looper is good for sure. Nice and full from start to finish. Also, there is a light bitterness to ease you into your Loop that slowly builds as you progress on your way through the beer.
Without being spectacular Looper is an ok drop and does most certainly drink like a 6.4% craft IPA.
Jymi’s Rating: 71%
MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 67%
MOB review next weekend: POSH by FOREST ROAD BREWING CO.
Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017
Bluesky: @museonbooze.bsky.social
Instagram: muse.on.booze
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M O B 2026
BUZZKILL
BEER REVIEW: 433
BREWER: Mad Squirrel, Hertfordshire, England
STYLE: New England IPA
ABV: 6.5%
VESSEL: 440ml tin
DATE OF POST: 23rd January 2026
SAMMY SAY’S…
Buzzkill sets itself up with a name that promises mischief or at least a bit of edge. You expect something bold, maybe even a little chaotic. Instead, what arrives is a beer that feels like it’s trying to be interesting but keeps second-guessing itself.
The packaging is decent. Gold and black always suggest a bit of swagger, and the colours do catch the eye. But then there’s that strange line effect in the background, like static on a telly that’s lost its signal. It doesn’t ruin it, but it does make you squint a bit and wonder what the point was.
The nose is citrusy and clean. Lemon leads, with a flicker of bitter orange that’s actually quite nice. It sets up a promising start. First sip is bitter, almost too much so, but then it swings into sweet orange territory. The shift is quick, like someone changing the radio station mid-song. It’s not unpleasant, but it’s not exactly smooth either.
There’s no real complexity. It’s a bit of a rollercoaster, bitter then sweet, then not much else. You keep waiting for something more to arrive, a deeper note or a clever twist, but it never comes. The mouthfeel is fine, nothing to complain about, but nothing to write home about either.
Buzzkill isn’t a bad beer. It’s just one that doesn’t live up to its own name. You expect a punch, maybe a bit of drama, and instead you get a polite nod and a shrug. It’s drinkable, yes. You’d have another if someone handed it to you. But you wouldn’t chase it down. It’s the kind of beer that turns up to the party, makes a few comments, and leaves early.
Sammy’s Rating: 61%
JYMI SAY’S…
If I had tested / drunk Buzzkill (incredible name btw, especially coming from a black and gold tin) I would have said it was a tasty crushable 4.7% (ish) New England IPA. There is orange and mango flair throughout and this brews texture is smooooooth. And because of this Buzzkill is highly drinkable.
However, this is a 6.5% Double Dry Hopped IPA. So the fact that the nose, taste and aftertaste fade as well as the the body being fairly light means that Buzzkill was ultimately a disappointment.
I think this beer’s strength is also it’s weakness here.
Regular drinking conditions would see Buzzkill fly down, which in turn would be highly dangerous at 6.5%. But under test conditions it doesn’t deliver where it should.
Lovely beer but I think the usually very dependable Mad Squirrel just needed to dial this one up a bit.
Jymi’s Rating: 73%
MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 67%
MOB review next weekend: LOOPER by FULL CIRCLE BREW CO.
Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017
Bluesky: @museonbooze.bsky.social
Instagram: muse.on.booze
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M O B 2026
VEDETT EXTRA PILSNER
BEER REVIEW: 432
BREWER: Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat, Antwerp, Belgium
STYLE: Pilsner
ABV: 5.2%
VESSEL: 330ml brown bottle
DATE OF POST: 16th January 2026
SAMMY SAY’S…
If Vedett Extra Pilsner were a moped, it’d be the kind that hums along without fuss—no turbo boost, no flashy decals, just a clean, reliable ride. The kind you hop on for a quick spin through town and end up appreciating for its quiet competence.
The first impression is crisp, with a nose that hints at lemon but mostly sticks to the classic pilsner script. It doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, and that’s part of its charm. The taste is refreshing, nicely balanced, with a gentle bitterness that rolls in just before a touch of sweetness. Crucially, it avoids the cloying aftertaste that plagues lesser lagers—this one knows when to ease off the throttle.
Packaging-wise, it’s a mixed bag. The front label has a clean, appealing look, but the back feels like someone slapped a commercial on your rear fender. The bottle shape, though, is a win—compact and easy to grip, like a well-designed handlebar.
There’s nothing groundbreaking here, but that’s not the point. Extra Pilsner plays it straight and does so with quiet confidence. It’s the kind of beer you’d happily reach for again—not because it dazzles, but because it delivers. Solid, unfussy, and refreshingly honest. Just like a good moped.
Sammy’s Rating: 70%
JYMI SAY’S…
Only needs to be short (like me) and sweet (like me) this one.
VEP is a really good brew, a really good brew, and has instantly become a fridge filler, if the price is right.
See, VEP is not out of this world, but is very very good and a great representation of the pilsner style, even though it’s from Belgium.
It drinks with a good spike to the flavour and a perfect spice level. Good body, good flavour, fairly easy to get hold of and reasonably affordable.
If you like beer, you will like this…
Just go and pick some up will ya!
Jymi’s Rating: 71%
MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 70.5%
MOB review next weekend: BUZZKILL by MAD SQUIRREL
Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017
Bluesky: @museonbooze.bsky.social
Instagram: muse.on.booze
museonbooze.com
M O B 2026
KIRIN ICHIBAN
BEER REVIEW: 431
BREWER: Bryggt och Tappat, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
STYLE: Lager
ABV: 5%
VESSEL: 330ml brown bottle
DATE OF POST: 9th January 2026
SAMMY SAY’S…
Kirin Lager is the kind of beer that turns up with a polite smile and a pressed shirt, ready to mingle but not quite ready to dance. It’s got the charm of a well-behaved guest at a garden party: pleasant, inoffensive, and just a little bit forgettable. But let’s not be too harsh. There’s fun to be had here, even if it’s the kind that involves gentle nods rather than belly laughs.
The pour is clean and golden, with a fizz that’s more polite than enthusiastic. It settles quickly, leaving a modest head that vanishes like someone who’s just remembered they left the oven on. The nose is light and citrusy, with a faint whiff of grain and a whisper of lemon. It’s not going to win any awards for complexity, but it’s fresh enough to make you lean in for a second sniff.
First sip? It’s crisp. There’s a flash of malt, a touch of sweetness, and then a slightly metallic bitterness that arrives like an unexpected guest and stays just a bit too long. It’s not unpleasant, but it does make you wonder if the party’s about to wind down. There’s a hint of rice in the background – subtle, clean, and very much in keeping with Kirin’s Japanese roots – but it doesn’t do much to elevate the experience. It’s like someone brought sushi to a barbecue and forgot the soy sauce.
The mouthfeel is thin. Not watery exactly, but definitely on the lean side. It slides across the tongue like a beer that’s trying to be refreshing but forgot to bring its personality. You keep sipping, hoping it’ll thicken up or throw in a surprise, but it stays resolutely mild. It’s the kind of texture that makes you reach for crisps just to give your mouth something to do.
Packaging is solid. The gold and white label has a kind of retro elegance, and the mythical beast on the front, part dragon, part horse, part “what is that exactly?”, adds a touch of flair. It’s the kind of packaging you wouldn’t mind being seen with, even if you’re not quite sure what it’s trying to say. The name gets a tick. “Kirin” sounds cool, mysterious, and vaguely powerful. Shame the beer doesn’t quite live up to it.
It does get a nod for being easy going. You could drink this at a barbecue, a midweek dinner, or while watching a film you’ve already seen three times. It’s not going to distract you, and sometimes that’s exactly what you want. But if you’re looking for depth, complexity, or a beer that makes you sit up and say “ooh,” this isn’t it.
Kirin Lager is a bit of a let down in the nicest possible way. It promises a mythical experience and delivers something more like a polite shrug. You won’t hate it. You might even enjoy it. But you’ll probably forget it by the time you’ve finished it. And maybe that’s okay. Not every beer needs to be a revelation. Some just need to be cold, fizzy, and vaguely agreeable. Kirin ticks those boxes. And then quietly exits stage left.
Sammy’s Rating: 55%
JYMI SAY’S…
The year was 1995. I was working at a local sports bar cleaning snooker tables and Sammy was trying to pull in some spending money for fags, cheap lager and CDs by plying his trade at the former supermarket, Somerfield. I distinctly remember one Saturday. I was staying over at Sam’s house, we had both been working that day and had also just been paid. It was going to be a big night. It was also Sammy’s first pay cheque from Somerfield.
Now the gig I had at the sports bar was a good one. Working on a Tuesday and Saturday I would receive £40 a week to clean and iron 10 snooker tables each day. I also got unlimited free snooker as well as free beer. I really was onto a winner, especially as once I got the technique down, 10 tables only took me 90 minutes.
But back to big pay day Saturday…
I think we had stuck on a Sonic Youth record. Sam was primed, brown envelope in hand. We had no idea what it was going to contain as he had forgotten how many hours he had worked and also hadn’t been informed what rate he was on.
It’s important for context here that you remember that I was earning £40 for 3 hours work plus unlimited snooker and beer.
Envelope opened. £47.90.
‘Not bad at all son!’ I exclaimed.
‘For 21 hours work… THAT’S £2.28 A FUCKING HOUR!’ Sam wailed!
This makes me giggle to this day! Not because of Sammy’s misfortune but because of the extreme reaction. However, once we realised that we had almost £90 between us spirits were high once more and the big night out was BACK ON!
Now, you maybe wondering why I telling this completely unnecessary anecdote? Well, the free beer I was getting from the sports bar, was Kirin!
Do I remember what it was like back then? No, not at all. But I’m fairly sure I liked it.
Thirty years on, let’s see how the brew today fares…
Ok, for the European market it is now brewed in Germany, not Japan. Bit of a shame but makes sense business wise I suppose.
Beer wise I have to say that what I got was TOTALLY unexpected…
A surprisingly good full honey nose leads the way. In the mouth it’s a touch dry and a touch bitter. In the swallow there is definitely a tickle of lime. The aftertaste is bitter and hoppy with the late aftertaste being slightly acrid and a touch smoky.
Remember, this is a lager!
Now while all of this was perfectly pleasant, you can see why I was taken aback!
Kirin, though clearly tasting like a lager does not behave like one at all.
This is a decent enough beer for sure, but oddly complex for it’s style. Worth a go without a doubt but if you’re looking for a summertime crushable brew, I’d say look elsewhere.
Jymi’s Rating: 64%
MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 59.5%
MOB review next weekend: VEDETT EXTRA PILSNER by BROUWERIJ DUVEL MOORTGAT
Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017
Bluesky: @museonbooze.bsky.social
Instagram: muse.on.booze
museonbooze.com
M O B 2026
MARTHA: QUAD
BEER REVIEW: 430
BREWER: The Brew Society, West Flanders, Belgium
STYLE: Strong Dark Ale
ABV: 12%
VESSEL: 11.15 Fl. Oz brown bottle
DATE OF POST: 2nd January 2026
JYMI SAY’S…
Confusion was high, not because of the mighty 12% (we’ll get to that), but because of what was the name of brewery and what was the name of the beer? After some extensive research (5 mins) it turns out that the brewer is THE BREW SOCIETY and Martha is a range that they do. There are also blonde and red versions of Martha as well as our brown ale today. This does explain CRAZY BROWN being written on the lid too, as in QUAD is the crazy brown version of Martha, a la Friends episode names. The Crazy Brown one…
I actually quite like this angle and if I was better versed in Brew Society beers it would have made sense from the off.
But the confusion did not end there for poor lil Jymi…
Considering this is a 12% big boy, on initial sip, where was the bigness? I wanted more. I wanted a hit! Yes, there was plenty of flavour but Quad was curiously thin. Thin is probably wrong, but it just wasn’t big enough. The flavour then dropped out fairly quickly and the aftertaste was, though lovely, faint. I WANTED MORE!
However, as you move your way through the brew things begin to come together. The flavour and the body begins to intensify, not to 12% levels but bigger and bigger Quad does get as you move through. It’s fairly sweet with a definite chocolate backbone.
If I’m being honest to get the true picture of Quad I feel it should have come in a bigger vessel. A 500ml (whatever that is in fluid ounce wise?!) bottle would have been ideal. BUT at 12% I fully understand why it doesn’t come in such a way.
If this brew tasted like it does at the conclusion, then we would be touching a 9/10 beer here, but it doesn’t so…
Jymi’s Rating: 75%
SAMMY SAY’S…
Martha Quad makes an entrance that feels quietly assured. The pour is deep and velvety, a rich chestnut brown with a soft, persistent head that hints at the creaminess to come. It settles with a kind of composure, as if it’s been poured a thousand times before and knows exactly how to behave. There’s a warmth to its appearance that invites you in without ceremony.
The aroma is subtle but rewarding. You have to lean in a little, and when you do, there’s a gentle wave of cocoa and roasted coffee, like the last few moments of a good café visit. It doesn’t overwhelm, and that restraint feels deliberate. There’s no flashiness here, just a quiet confidence in its own character.
On the palate, Martha Quad opens with smooth, rounded chocolate that coats the tongue without heaviness. It’s followed by a grounded bitterness, earthy and persistent, like the memory of dark soil after rain. The sweetness is present but never indulgent. It threads through the experience like a well-placed harmony, lifting the darker notes without ever tipping into syrup. Midway through the glass, a flicker of unsweetened cola emerges; dry, slightly herbal, and oddly nostalgic. It’s a clever touch, adding complexity without clutter.
The mouthfeel is exceptional. Full and smooth, it carries the flavours with grace, never rushing, never dragging. It’s the kind of texture that makes you slow down, that encourages you to notice. There’s a sense of completeness to it, as if every element has been given just enough room to breathe.
Packaging is quietly stylish. The warm brown tones echo the beer’s own palette, and the design feels modern but rooted in tradition. It’s recognisably Belgian in its cues, but not slavishly so. There’s a sense of care in the presentation, a respect for the drink inside.
Martha Quad doesn’t try to impress with theatrics. It doesn’t need to. It’s a beer that knows its strengths and plays to them with quiet precision. Balanced, thoughtful, and deeply satisfying, it leaves you with the sense that someone took their time — and that you should too.
Sammy’s Rating: 87%
MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 81%
MOB review next weekend: KIRIN by BRYGGT OCH TAPPAT
Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017
Bluesky: @museonbooze.bsky.social
Instagram: muse.on.booze
museonbooze.com
M O B 2026
GINGERBREAD LATTE
BEER REVIEW: 429
BREWER: Vault City, Lothian, Scotland
STYLE: Imperial Stout
ABV: 11%
VESSEL: 330ml tin
DATE OF POST: 26th December 2025
JYMI SAY’S…
For this review to work, it’s important that you remember that I live in a stately home (seems beer reviewing pays pretty well, and you can see how, what with us sometimes hitting double figure likes on Bluesky!).
Christmas Eve through to a day or so after Boxing Day can be pretty hectic. Especially if you’re hosting and many family members come over to camp out / settle in for 4+ days. There is the food to prep, eat and tidy away, 3 or more times a day! When it comes to the drinking there is the constant chilling, pouring and cleaning of glasses. Presents need to be wrapped (hopefully prior, but not always), unwrapped and said wrapping tidied away. There is the endless patrol of people making sure they’re ok, having a nice time and ALIVE (especially when it comes to Uncle Walter). There is also entertainment… who wants what? Movie? Which movie? Music? What music? Are the kids all ok? Is Uncle Walter asleep oooooooor?? Are the dogs ok? Is the music too loud? Does anyone need a top up? Is the ham defrosting for tomorrow? Where did the bottle opener go?!…
IT’S HECTIC!!!
But there always comes that time to take yourself away from the chaos, maybe with your father, maybe with you brother-in-law, maybe with your brother or maybe with your father-in-law. It could be your sister, Uncle Walter or just yourself. You reside to the library for calmness, contemplation and a wee sip of something by the fire. Typically, maybe a brandy or a port… but this is where our behemoth of a beer today would come into its own. Gingerbread Latte is absolutely perfect for that moment of calm. Taking it easy for 30 mins. No rush. No stress. Just sitting peacefully in your easy chair… sipping.
And here is why…
This Imperial Stout is nothing short of exceptional. Starting proceedings with a sweet ginger syrup nose you know instantly that you’re in business. The taste is one of faint (but certainly in the forefront) ginger. The mouthfeel is one of thick creamy milk. The aftertaste is one of bitter coffee, with the bitterness building the more you get into it. And although this brew is biconically strong at 11%, it only comes across as something more in the 7% region making it slip down with absolutely zero effort nor alcohol burn. It’s rich, it’s uncinus, it’s luxurious… it’s fantastic.
And once finished you slip into a 20 min power nap with a HUGE WARM SMILE on your face safe in the knowledge that you have just consumed greatness in a glass.
And then… it’s back to the chaos!
All is good x
Jymi’s Rating: 96%
SAMMY SAY’S…
The taproom hums with Christmas hits and the clink of glasses, its chalkboard menu rewritten in candy-cane cursive for the season. You settle into a corner booth beneath a garland-strung window, and the bartender slides over the Gingerbread Latte like it’s a gift wrapped in aluminium. That tall 330ml tin gleams with festive flair; snowflakes, spice swirls, and just enough whimsy to make you grin before the pour even begins.
It lands in the glass like molasses in slow motion. Deep, dark, and decadent, crowned with a brown head that looks whipped by the elves themselves. The nose is a knockout, ginger and vanilla leap out like they’ve been waiting all year for this moment. It smells like the inside of a gingerbread house, if the house also served espresso and had a roaring fire.
The mouthfeel is pure velvet. It coats the tongue like a cashmere scarf, smooth and indulgent without ever tipping into heaviness. The flavour journey is a sleigh ride through a spice market. First, sweet vanilla, soft and creamy, like the foam on a festive latte. Then gingerbread, rich and chewy, followed by a swirl of cinnamon that warms like a hug from someone in a Nordic jumper. Just when you think it’s all sugar and spice, the coffee hits; a bold, bitter slap that grounds the sweetness and adds grown-up swagger. And then, like a ghost of Christmas past, the ginger returns, lingering long after the sip, a spicy echo that refuses to fade.
This beer doesn’t just taste festive, it feels like a tradition. It’s the kind of brew you’d serve at a midnight toast, or crack open after the last present’s been unwrapped. It’s strong, unapologetically so, but never brash. It’s confident. It knows it’s the best-dressed guest at the party and still brings a tin of homemade biscuits.
If your local coffee shop turned into a taproom for December, this would be the signature pour. It’s a stout that sings carols in minor chords, that pairs perfectly with ginger snaps and twinkling lights. It’s not just a beer, it’s a mood, a moment, a memory in the making. And you’ll want another.
Sammy’s Rating: 96%
MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 96%
MOB review next weekend: MARTHA: QUAD by THE BREW SOCIETY
Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017
Bluesky: @museonbooze.bsky.social
Instagram: muse.on.booze
museonbooze.com
M O B 2025
JOVIAN
BEER REVIEW: 428
BREWER: Beyond Belief Brewing, Hertfordshire, England
STYLE: Stout
ABV: 5%
VESSEL: 440ml tin
DATE OF POST: 19th December 2025
SAMMY SAY’S…
I had been waiting for Jovian all week. The bottle sat on the counter like a promise, brown hues glowing softly, the graphic around the beer’s makeup catching the light just right. It looked clever, it looked thoughtful, it looked like someone cared. The idea of surplus pasta and brownies turned into a stout felt bold and generous, like a brewer with a conscience and a sense of humour.
I opened it slowly, expecting richness, expecting warmth, expecting something that would wrap around me like a blanket and say, yes, this is what you hoped for. But the nose came first, kelp and burnt barley. Not a whisper of brownie, not even a hint of comfort. I told myself it might open up, it didn’t.
In the glass, it looked thin, not lean or elegant, just thin. I took a sip. There was some sweet chocolate at the front, and a flicker of bitter coffee. But the mouthfeel was absent, not light, not crisp, just missing. The flavours tried to speak but had no body to carry them. It was like listening to a song through broken speakers.
I kept going, hoping it would build, it didn’t. The sweetness stayed, but without depth. The bitterness lingered, but without bite. It was a beer that had all the right ideas and none of the follow-through, like a dream that starts with colour and ends in static.
Jovian wasn’t terrible, but it broke my heart a little. I wanted to love it, I really did.
Sammy’s Rating: 42%
JYMI SAY’S…
An interstellar approach to tin art… ok ok, yeah I’m alright with that but BBB haven’t exactly nailed it now have they?! And I’m afraid to say that when it comes to the beer itself, Houston, well actually Borehamwood, we have a problem.
The brew itself does get off of the ground quite well in fairness. There is a lovely yet faint brownie aroma up the shnoz and the initial flavour is again one of the chocolate loveliness that a brownie brings. But from there on in I’m afraid this attempt at reaching for the moon begins to plummet back down to earth.
Jovian (cool name, don’t quite see the correlation with the beer, but a cool name) just loses all momentum the further you get into the brew.
The taste of brownie dissipates to be replaced with a slight sour oddness. The body then seems to get thinner and thinner the lower your glass gets. The sourness does eventually fade, thankfully, but seems to be replaced by absolutely nothing. One late positive to cling onto is that the late late late mouthfeel is actually lovely.
But overall this stout just completely misses the essence of what a stout actually is and indeed should be.
A quick side note on the brewery… pos and neg.
POSITIVE:
I do love what Beyond Belief are attempting here. Brewing beers with surplus pasta and what ever odds and ends they can get their hands on. This time around, brownies.
NEGATIVE:
I’m sorry, but if you’re gonna call your outfit Beyond Belief Brewing, you better be making some absolute top end beer. And… well you know where I’m at already with Jovian.
Jymi’s Rating: 45%
MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 43.5%
MOB review next weekend: GINGERBREAD LATTE by VAULT CITY
Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017
Bluesky: @museonbooze.bsky.social
Instagram: muse.on.booze
museonbooze.com
M O B 2025
MUSE ON BOOZE 